Nannup MTB

Overview

Nannup Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park is a gravity-focused trail network set in a working pine plantation 2 km east of Nannup, in Western Australia's South West Southern Forests & Valleys region. Built by Three Chillies Design between June 2020 and March 2022 (officially opened to the public in early 2022), the network comprises around 19 named purpose-built trails covering roughly 35 km, with difficulty ranging from Green (Easy) through Double Black (Extreme). The park draws its name from the disused concrete firefighting water tanks (Tank 7 and Tank 8) that anchor its two riding zones — Tank 7 (freestyle and flow) and Tank 8 (technical) — linked by the 3.4 km Tank to Tank traverse.

What sets Nannup apart from other WA MTB destinations is its setting and culture. Riders climb the sealed Stairway to Seven (1.7 km) from town or board commercial shuttles to access a network carved through tall pines on undulating terrain. The trails — including standouts Easy Tiger (blue descent), Elevator, Flylacine, Mannup (double-black drop with bespoke wood-and-steel feature), and Slippery Gypsy — were designed for natural surface durability and are described by builders and riders alike as "rough and rocky, to fast and flowing".

Nannup is also a designated Trail Town and the halfway point of the 1,000 km Munda Biddi bikepacking route between Perth and Albany. The town backs the riding community with a dedicated bike café (Three Tanks Cycling), bike hire, mechanic, lockers, and the volunteer-run Nannup Mountain Bike Club (NMBC, established 2015). The newer Ngoolark MTB Freestyle Jump Park (opened June 2024) — featuring two polymer-stabilised jump lines on a converted motocross site 2 km north of town — complements the cross-country offering with a dedicated freestyle/jump experience.

Location & Access

Address (Shire office): 15 Adam Street, Nannup WA 6275
Park location: Tank 7 MTB Park, off Lindsay Road, ~2 km east of Nannup town centre
Coordinates: -33.9921, 115.7865
Drive times:
Perth: ~3 hours (270 km south via SW Highway)
Bunbury: ~1 hr 20 min
Margaret River: ~1 hr 15 min
Pemberton: ~1 hr
Town access trail: Stairway to Seven (1.7 km blue climb) connects town to Tank 7 lookout; no need to drive
Shuttle access: Lindsay Road is the only shuttle-accessible route to Tank 7 Lookout; private vehicles are not permitted to drive within the trail network
Public transport: Limited; Transwa bus to Bunbury then connecting service. Most riders self-drive or come with a tour operator
Parking: Multiple trailheads — Brockman, Tank 8, Connect 4, The Local, Emu Trailhead (used for two-up uplifts)

Best Season & Conditions

Open year-round. No published seasonal closure; surfaces work hot/dry through cool/wet
Summer (Dec–Feb): Hot and dry; carry plenty of water. Watch for total fire ban days in the surrounding plantation and DBCA estate — riders should defer entry on TFB days when the FPC restricts plantation access
Autumn (Mar–May): Considered prime season — cool temps, well-bonded trail surface
Winter (Jun–Aug): Rideable, but Black Ice in particular gets very slippery; many trails ride best damp rather than soaked. Expect mud
Spring (Sep–Nov): Excellent — wildflowers, good grip
Event closures: Periodic short closures for races/works. Recent precedents:
Tank to Tank closed for ~6 weeks Easter–early May 2024 for FPC pine harvesting
Partial closure 15–16 May 2025 for Seven Gravel Race
Operational reminder: This is a working pine plantation. Harvesting operations recur and the Shire/NMBC publish notice via the Experience Nannup App and signage

Managing Body & Trail Builders

Land: Forestry Plantations on FPC-managed pine estate; shire stewardship
Park management: Shire of Nannup, in partnership with the Nannup Mountain Bike Club (NMBC, est. 2015)
Trail design & build (Tank 7): Three Chillies Design (Three-stage build, June 2020 – March 2022)
Ngoolark Jump Park designer: Three Chillies Design (opened 19 June 2024)
Funding partners (Ngoolark): Regional Recovery Partnership Program (federal), DBCA, DLGSC South West, DPIRD, NMBC
NMBC office bearers (2026): President Nicole Watson; VP Alexa Tunmer; Secretary Angela Ferguson; Treasurer Ulrich Engelke; committee Cody Ward, Terri Frazer, Steve Giovinazzo
Awards: Partnership and Collaboration Award (2022), Local Government Professionals Community Achievement Awards — Shire of Nannup

History & Background

Pre-2015: Disused fire-fighting water tanks (numbered Tank 7 and Tank 8) sit in the pine plantation east of town — the source of the park name
2015: Nannup Mountain Bike Club founded to advocate for sanctioned trails
2020 (June): Three Chillies Design begins construction of the Tank 7 network on Shire of Nannup contract
2022 (March): Tank 7 officially opened with three build stages complete — 19 trails, ~35 km
2022: Shire receives the Partnership and Collaboration Award for the project
2024 (May): Tank to Tank closed Easter–early May for FPC pine harvesting; reopened 22 May 2024
2024 (19 June): Ngoolark MTB Freestyle Jump Park opens 2 km north of town on a converted motocross site, with two polymer-stabilised jump lines
2026 (October): Nannup hosts UCI Gravel World Championships and G7 Gravel Adventure Week (4–11 October 2026) — major regional cycling event drawing global attention